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Eddie Durham

The Texas musician who probably contributed to more historical developments in Jazz history than any other was Eddie Durham of San Marcos (1906-1987). Durham’s career spanned some seven decades, beginning, according to his own account, in 1916, when was ten years of age. During the 1920s and 1930s, Durham figured prominently in a number of territorial bands in Texas; in the rise of the Kansas City bands of Bennie Moten and Count Basie; in the success of the Swing Era orchestras of Jimmie Lunceford and Glenn Miller; and through his association with Lester Young and Charlie Christian, in the creation of the cool and bop styles of the 1940s and 1950s. As a trombonist, guitarist, arranger and composer, Durham demonstrates the truth of Frank Drigg’s assertion that “the Southwestern musician tended to be well educated musically, which enabled him to meet the challenge of constantly developing styles”. Durham affected the entire future of Jazz music. No other Texas musician, except Budd Johnson (1910-1989) had such a varied and enduring impact on the history of jazz, although Johnson’s style is said to have been beholden to Durham. They were the common thread through all the Orchestras.

Of the major groups active during the Swing Era, only the orchestras of Duke Ellington and Earl Hines were unaffected directly by the talents of Eddie Durham, though other Texans did contribute to these orchestras, and Durham indirectly. “DAVE OLIPHANT”

Eddie Durham began in a sibling band called THE DURHAM BROTHERS ORCHESTRA. His cousin Herschal Evans was also in the Band. When their orchestra parted ways, some of them joined the marching Band of the 101 Wild Ranch traveling circus. Durham experimented with harmony and arrangements for brass. His brothers were in the great bands of Nat King Cole, Blanch Calloway, Maime Smith, Andy Kirk, T-Bone Walker and Lionel Hampton.